“Bzzz——”
Still sitting on the swing, not yet home, Xiao Chun Miura’s phone vibrated softly in her pocket, pulling her back to reality from her thoughts.
She took out her phone and saw it was a LIME message from Yui Hori.
[Yui: Koharu! Are you home yet? Today was really so much fun! Next time, how about we go to the Cat Café? (p’w’p)]
The lively tone almost made her imagine Yui Hori’s expression as she spoke.
When Xiao Chun Miura glanced up, she noticed the name at the top of the phone screen—it was actually a group chat.
She had no idea when Yui Hori had added her to their contact group.
Looking at the lively emoji and unrestrained enthusiasm, Xiao Chun Miura quietly gazed at the screen for a while.
She recalled the time in the Crepe Shop that afternoon, and the serious looks on Yui Hori and the others’ faces as they tried to come up with ideas for her.
Then, she bent her finger and tapped on the phone screen.
[Koharu: Not yet, but I’m almost home. Thank you all for today. I was really happy.]
She typed out her message, her fingertips tapping on the cold screen, yet she didn’t feel cold at all.
[Yui: Hehe, us too! Oh, right, Koharu, about the Sports Day thing, don’t overthink it! We were just being nosy and talking randomly, so don’t feel pressured!]
[Mio: Yeah, yeah, Yui’s just got a manga brain, so ignore her. But Koharu, if you really do feel that way, as your friends we’ll definitely support you!]
[Yuzuki: Good luck (o•ㅂ·)9!]
Looking at the string of supportive and kind messages sent one after another by her “friends,” Xiao Chun Miura fell silent.
She knew these girls, barely in their teens, didn’t really understand her true burdens. They simply saw her as an ordinary girl caught in a triangle with the Prince of the Academy and his domineering childhood friend…and so, as friends, cheered her on from their own perspective.
Xiao Chun Miura’s shoulders trembled slightly in the evening wind.
…It was in moments like this that such simple support felt immeasurably precious.
***
[Koharu: Yeah, thank you, everyone.]
After sending this message, Xiao Chun Miura turned off her phone screen.
Even though the vibrations still continued, she didn’t plan to check anymore—since it was probably more gossip anyway.
She took a deep breath, stood up, and looked at the sparkling city lights in the distance.
“Mm, let’s go home first.”
When she got home, Xiao Chun Miura didn’t immediately heat up the curry in the fridge as usual.
She set her bag down at the entrance, changed into her indoor slippers, and headed straight to her bedroom.
She stood in the center of the room, looking around at this space that had gradually become familiar.
Desk, bed, wardrobe… Everything was quiet and ordinary, just like the identity of “Xiao Chun Miura.”
But she knew that from today on, something had changed.
From today on, she felt a little closer to being “Xiao Chun Miura.”
***
Lying in bed with the lights off, Xiao Chun Miura still couldn’t sleep.
Her mind kept drifting with information about Sports Day, making it impossible to calm down and fall asleep.
Stopping Kanzaki Sou from approaching Kondo Haruka during Sports Day was the ultimate goal, but she still didn’t know the key events involved.
If she considered “events that would only occur after Kanzaki Sou and Kondo Haruka interacted” and took “Kanzaki Sou and Kondo Haruka being alone together” as a precondition, then there were still actions she could take.
It was impossible to monopolize Kanzaki Sou for the entire Sports Day using other excuses, but there were still things she could do—as long as she acted, it was better than sitting and waiting for the worst.
If she did nothing, the two of them would just follow the game’s scenario and develop their relationship…but by joining the Sports Day events as a variable, there was at least a chance to disrupt the key parts of their Favorability System storyline.
Furthermore, as long as she had opportunities to spend more time with Kanzaki Sou, it would help prevent the formation of the “Kanzaki Sou and Kondo Haruka alone together” precondition.
She wasn’t Kanzaki Sou’s classmate, and the Library Committee work that normally connected them would be on hold during Sports Day.
So the only thing she could use was the special events of Sports Day, and the rule that “Committee can also send members to participate.”
She paused at this thought.
Right—she had to make sure Kanzaki Sou would agree to sign up for the Borrowed Item Relay with her as a pair. Otherwise, all the predictions and plans would be meaningless.
Even with just this rough analysis, Xiao Chun Miura could clearly feel she was in a difficult, almost hopeless situation.
“No way…”
She shook her head, muttering to herself in the silent bedroom.
“I can’t just keep doing these broad analyses…I need a more feasible, stable plan to get Kanzaki Sou to agree to team up with me.”
It was another sleepless night.
When she woke up, Xiao Chun Miura, full of various ideas, headed to School.
She planned to take advantage of lunchtime to test Kanzaki Sou’s thoughts. “If I wanted to sign up for a special event, would you be willing to be my partner?”
…That was basically the question she intended to use to probe Kanzaki Sou’s attitude.
She didn’t have to spell it out completely, and that way there was no risk of any consequences.
That was what Xiao Chun Miura originally thought.
But she had overlooked a detail she’d never noticed until now,
……and that was an error she should have noticed long ago.
When Xiao Chun Miura went to the Library during lunch break as usual, she didn’t see Kanzaki Sou.
Sakura-sensei was sitting behind the counter, unlike usual, not dozing off. She was focused on the laptop in front of her, looking very much “at work.”
Xiao Chun Miura paused.
She walked over with wide eyes, about to greet Sakura-sensei, but the teacher seemed to notice her approach.
“It’s Miura-san. Good afternoon.”
“You came at just the right time. There’s something I need to inform you of.”
Before Xiao Chun Miura could even say hello, Sakura-sensei continued briskly:
“The Library Committee part-time work can be put on hold for now—you and Kanzaki-kun have worked hard these past few weeks.”
“Miura-san?”
Not hearing Xiao Chun Miura’s response, Sakura-sensei subconsciously pressed further.
But she still didn’t look up.
So she didn’t notice the expression on Xiao Chun Miura’s face—like she’d seen a ghost.
How could this be—
How could she have forgotten about this?
Xiao Chun Miura almost bit through her own fingernail.
—To keep the game world’s plot and stability running smoothly, Kanzaki Sou’s Library Committee activities had to end before the midterm exams.
The club activity options he was supposed to participate in did not include the Library Committee.
This was something the System had already informed her about.
***
Xiao Chun Miura couldn’t help pinching her own cheek.
That’s right! Kanzaki Sou would resign!
This part of the plot was probably the System’s correction taking effect.
This was supposed to ensure the System’s safety and peace, but…
Xiao Chun Miura felt darkness descend over her forehead.
So what was she supposed to do now?!